Road roller



Oct: 20, 1942.l

E. c. GLEDHILL 2,299,691

ROAD ROLLER Filed June 27, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l s l I n N s N mummuml m O g L E ROAD ROLLER y oct. 2o, 1942.

Filed June 2'7, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 z" .2. Z7 -/z r."....'.". L'. c. Wed/17! www Patented Oct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROAD ROLLER Edward o. Gledhiii, Galion, ohio Application June 27, 1940,l Serial No. 342,825

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved road roller `and seeks, among'other objects, to provide a machine of this character having a ballast tank thereon which ballast tank also serves as a roof for the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a road roller which may be easily constructed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a road roller of this type wherein the combination ballast tank and roof will be adapted for carrying wateror other liquid for increasing the weight, and thus the effectiveness, of the machine.

Still further objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete road roller constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a detail end View showing particularly the combination ballast tank and roof employed, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the combined ballast tank and roof.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals of reference will be seen to designate like parts, the numeral I indicates in general the body of my improved road roller. The body I includes spaced diverging side beams 2 and 3 which eX- tend throughout the length of the machine and are of conventional I-beam construction. A roller member 4 is pivotally connected to the forward end of the body by means of a roller frame 5. Relatively wide rear wheels 6 having wide tread surfaces I are mounted at the rear of the machine and are adapted to cooperate with the roller member 4 during a rolling operation. A motor 8 is mounted between the beams 2 and 3, medially of the length of the body and supplies motion to the rear wheels. Steering rods 9 permit pivotal movement of the roller member 4 when desired.

Mounted on the side beams 2 and 3 are supporting posts I0. More specifically, a pair of transversely alined posts IIJ is mounted on the beams 2 and 3 near their corresponding forward ends. Another pair of the posts I is mounted on said beams substantially medially of the length of the body. A third pair of posts I0 is mounted at the rear of the body. The corresponding upper ends of the posts I0 of each pair of posts are connected by cross beams I I. Reinforcing plates I2 are secured to the cross 55 beams I I and to the posts and insure firm mounting of the cross beams on the posts. Plates I3, similar to the plates I2, are connected to the side lbeams 2 and 3 and to the posts I0 at their corresponding lower ends, for assuring firm connection between said posts and said beams. Cross braces I4 extend vertically and diagonally between the posts of the forwardmost pair of osts I il. The cross braces I4, ofcourse, effectually prevent' relative movement of the posts of said forwardmost pair of posts Ill.

Cross braces I5, similarly, extend between the posts of the rearwardmost pair of posts I0 and serve the same purpose. Pairs of longitudinally extending cross braces I6 and I'I are provided. These pairs of cross braces extend between posts of the forwardmost pair of posts and those of the centrally located pair of posts. It will now be understood that a firm mounting for all of the posts I0 on the body I will be assured.

Rearwardly of the motor, there is provided a drivers seat I8, said drivers seat being conveniently positioned to permit the driver to have ready access to all of the controls of the machine.

The combination ballast tank and roof will now be described. The combination ballast tank and roof is mounted on the cross beams II and extends throughout the major portion of the machine, said combination ballast tank and roof projecting forwardly past the -forwardmost pair of posts I 0, in overhanging relation to the forward end portions of the beams 2 and 3, and also projecting rearwardly past the rearwardmost pair of posts I0. The detailed construction of the tank and roof is seen in Figure 3 of the drawings. In this connection, however, it is desired to emphasize that the particular construction of the tank is not of vital importance. The most important consideration to be borne in mind is that the tank is of suflicient size to permit the carrying of water in a sufficient amount to add materially to the weight of the machine. Also, the tank is of such a size and is so located that it will provide an effective roof for the machine, with the result that the driver will be protected.

The combination ballast tank and roof is indicated generally at I9 and includes upper and lower sections 20 and 2I, the upper section fitting into said lower section. A gasket 22 is mounted on the bottom wall 23 of the lower section at the junction of said bottom wall with the side wall 24 of said lower section. This gasket 22 is normally engaged with the rim of the side wall 25 of the upper section 20 for providing an leffective seal. The upper section 2l] is formed with an inclined wall 26 and a top wall 21, the inclined wall 26 having b-rackets 28 mounted thereon, said brackets being arranged in a spaced series about said inclined wall and having portions projecting laterally from said wall. Br-ackets 29 are mounted on the side wall 24 of the lower section 2| and have portions extending laterally and in Vertical alinement with the extended portions of the brackets 28. 'Iie bolts 30 are passed through the extended portions of the brackets 28 and 29 and carry nuts 3 I. Tightening of the nuts 3| on the tie bolts 30 uniformly about the rim of the sections 20 and 2| will insure that said sections will be tightly clamped to each other. Thus, it will be seen that the tank I9 will be leak-proof. A filler plug 32 is screwed into the top wall 2'I of the upper section 20 in the tank I9 and, of course, provides means for permitting filling of the tank.

'I'he combination ballast tank and roof I9, as shown, is rectangular in contour. As pointed out ihereinbefore, the combination ballast tank and roof I9 may be shaped and built to suit individual conditions.

In use, the roller is operated in the conventional manner, it being assumed that the combination ballast tank and roof is empty. Should it be desired to increase the effective weight of the roller, it is only necessary to remove the plug 32 and introduce water to the interior of the tank. The amount to be placed within the combination tank and roof will be, of course, dependent upon the amount of additional Weight desired. It is desired to mention the fact that the posts I0 are of heavy construction, and adequate in number, so that they will effectively support the combination ballast tank and roof when the tank is entirely filled with liquid. As is obvious, the combination ballast tank and roof will provide eective protection for an operator seated in the seat I8. A drain plug 33 is mounted on the lower section 2| of the combination ballast tank and roof and permits removal of liquid from the tank when desired.

It is believed that the construction and operation of my improved road roller will now be thoroughly understood,

Having thus described claimed as new is:

A road roller having a frame, a plurality of vertical posts supported on said frame, a ballast tank supported on said posts, means for bracing said posts, and said ballast tank comprising a lower pan-shaped unit and an upper inverted pan-shaped unit telescopically received therein, a gasket between the two units, and means disengageably connecting said units to compress the peripheral edge of said upper unit against the gasket to obtain a water-tight seal.

the invention, what is EDWARD c. GLEDHILL. 

